Cards get by Marlins

Lohse goes 7 innings in 106-degree heat

Published 12:45 am, Sunday, July 8, 2012

ST. LOUIS — Kyle Lohse beat the Miami Marlins with seven innings of three-hit ball in 106-degree heat and Tony Cruz hit a go-ahead two-run triple in the St. Louis Cardinals' 3-2 victory on Saturday.

Allen Craig had three hits and Skip Schumaker added an RBI single in the fourth for the Cardinals, who have won five of seven and snapped the Marlins' three-game winning streak.

David Freese was hit by a pitch twice, walked and singled to reach base safely in all four trips.

Justin Ruggiano hit a two-run home run for the Marlins, who missed a chance to climb back to .500. Carlos Zambrano (4-7) lasted just five innings and Giancarlo Stanton lasted just two before leaving with right knee soreness, the injury that had kept him out four straight starts.

In other games: Scott Moore homered for the second straight day and J.D. Martinez and Jose Altuve had three hits each as Houston took advantage of the first-inning ejection of Zack Greinke to get a 6-3 win over Milwaukee and break a season-long nine-game losing streak. ... James McDonald scattered four hits over seven innings, Mike McKenry homered and Pittsburgh edged San Francisco 3-1. Neil Walker doubled twice and drove in a run and Joel Hanrahan worked the ninth to pick up his 23rd save. ... Gio Gonzalez pitched six innings of three-hit ball to earn his 12th win, Ian Desmond homered, and Washington used a three-run sixth to beat Colorado 4-1. ... Tommy Hanson pitched effectively into the eighth, Brian McCann homered and Atlanta beat struggling Philadelphia 6-3. The five-time defending NL East champions are freefalling since Chase Utley returned to the lineup, losing nine of 10.